Questions

655. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of a company (details supplied); if they currently provide services to her department of any of her Department’s agencies; if any departmental funding is paid to this company; the value of these contracts for the three years to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68559/26]

656. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps the HSE are taking to provide additional respite capacity in county Clare. [68654/26]

657. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the national childcare scheme attendance and under attendance provisions are currently under review; whether greater flexibility is being considered for working families whose childcare needs remain unchanged but whose children may occasionally attend fewer hours due to family circumstances, extracurricular activities or parental l…

658. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has plans to extend statutory paid paternity leave beyond the current entitlement; and if any review or consultation will take place in relation to same. [68675/26]

661. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the NCS attendance and under-attendance are currently being reviewed (details supplied). [68698/26]

662. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality If Tusla will consider seeking an interim care order or any other appropriate protective measures in respect of children (details supplied). [68661/26]

663. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of applications for an assessment of need in county Cavan that are awaiting completion, in tabular form; the number therein that have exceeded the statutory timeframe for completion; the number that are overdue by less than three months, three to six months, six to twelve months, twelve to twenty-four months and more than twen…

664. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of applications for an assessment of need in county Monaghan that are awaiting completion, in tabular form; the number therein that have exceeded the statutory timeframe for completion; the number that are overdue by less than three months, three to six months, six to twelve months, twelve to twenty-four months and more than t…

665. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of applications for an assessment of need received in county Cavan in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of assessments completed in each period; the average and longest waiting time for completion of an assessment of need in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68727/26]

666. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of applications for an assessment of need received in county Monaghan in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of assessments completed in each period; the average and longest waiting time for completion of an assessment of need in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68728/26]

667. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in county Cavan who, having completed an assessment of need, are currently awaiting each service or intervention identified in their service statement, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and physiotherapy, in tabular form; the number waiting less than six months, six to twelve m…

668. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in county Monaghan who, having completed an assessment of need, are awaiting each service or intervention identified in their service statement, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and physiotherapy, in tabular form; the number waiting less than six months, six to twelve months,…

669. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a blanket one-maintenance of reduced ratio-per-room rule would prevent a service needs review from recommending a further reduced ratio where the evidence demonstrates it is the most appropriate support; and the way in which the Department has satisfied itself that this restriction will not adversely affect the safety, wellbeing…

670. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of a case (details supplied); and will her officials investigate the case. [68737/26]

671. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she will provide funding to allow the continuation of childhood development initiative's Dolly Parton imagination library, which provides free books to thousands of children every month. [68662/26]

672. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider introducing multi annual funding arrangements for capital projects undertaken by disability service providers and disability organisations, in order to provide greater funding certainty and enable more effective planning and delivery of essential disability infrastructure. [68510/26]

673. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a child (details supplied) will receive the promised therapy. [68673/26]

674. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who has been referred to the East Limerick CDNT and has been advised that they will be waiting an additional year for an Assessment of Need. [68697/26]

675. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to increase paternity paid leave from two weeks to eight weeks. [68449/26]

676. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to address concerns regarding the use of private, unregulated supervised-access providers in family law proceedings (details supplied); the oversight, safeguarding requirements, Garda vetting, child protection training and professional qualification requirements that apply to private providers appointed or relied upon to supervise …

677. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being considered by her Department to support family resource centres in Budget 2027; if consideration is being given to increasing the minimum core funding available to family resource centres; to provide a dedicated capital funding stream; to increase investment in counselling and therapeutic supports; and if she will m…

681. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the arrest of 47 people in Turkey (details supplied) following a series of raids on gay bars and the homes of LGBTQ+ activists; if she will publicly condemn this action and if she will seek that the Government use the EU Presidency to highlight this injustice as a strong voice for those in the LGBTQ+ community. [688…

682. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the legal basis for Tusla's interpretation of section 66 of the Child Care Act 1991 regarding superannuation eligibility for staff employed in children's residential and aftercare services listed in S.I. 124/1992, 125/1992 and 863/2004; if her Department has issued any guidance or determination limiting eligibility (details supplied…

683. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has plans to set up a dedicated disability service for adults living with autism in CHO8. [68931/26]

684. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports, services and safeguarding measures that are currently available through the HSE for children who are considered at significant risk of wandering, absconding or becoming lost, including autistic children and those with intellectual disabilities; whether assistance is available for GPS tracking or other locating tec…